Fastening installation and fastener therefor



April 14, 1936. Q L HALL 2,037,682

FASTENING INSTALLATION AND FASTENER THEREFOR Filed Jan. 15, 1935Cfiwrles L .Ha ZZ,

Patented Apr. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

FASTENING INSTALLATION AND FASTENER THEREFOR Application January 15,1935, Serial No. 1,973

Claims. (Cl. 45-138) Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-4 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the blank used in making the fasteners;and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the finished fastener.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved method of securingcovering materials to supporting structures. A further object of myinvention is to provide a means of insuring secure engagement for theextreme edges of panels used in installations where there is someobstruction preventing the use of the ordinary types of fasteners nearthe edge of the panel. Such installations include the attachment of theso-called head-linings of motor vehicle bodies, and other assemblieswhere it is not feasible to provide apertures near the edge of thesupport.

Referring now to the drawing, I have shown (Figs. l-3) the essentialparts of an installation illustrating the principle of my invention. Theinstallation includes a covering panel I, of relatlvely rigid materialsuch as cardboard, -fibreboard and the like, a portion of a metal framemember 2, and a fastener member 3. The frame member has a projectingportion 4 extending along its edge, which would ordinarily prohibit theuse of snap fastener members, but which is an important factor in myinvention. The frame 2 is provided with a series of oval apertures 5(Fig. 1) spaced from the projection 4 and the panel I is provided witha, corresponding series of apertures 6, partially overlying theapertures 5.

The fastener member, generally designated by the numeral 3, ispreferably formed from strong spring metal and has a head I, a pair oflaterally yieldable arms 8, and a shoulder 9 on each arm. The arms 8 arearranged in offset relation so that they may move toward and away fromeach other in the manner of scissors. The fastener is generally V-shapedin form: one leg comprising the head portion 1, and the arms 8 formingthe second leg.

In order to clarify the principle upon which my invention operates, Ishall now proceed with an account of the manner in which it is used. Thepanel I, if not covered, is first placed upon the frame 2 with thecorresponding apertures 5 and 6 in alignment. If the panel is covered,as by a flexible material, such as cloth l0 (Fig. 2) 5 then thefasteners are preassembled therewith and the whole is then engaged as inthe usual manner of upholstery assemblies. The arms 8 of the fastenerare then inserted in the apertures with the head portion 1 pointingtoward the edge 10 of the panel I. The arms are pushed through theapertures until their upper ends bear against the frame 2 at A (Fig. 2)and their free ends bear against the projection 4. At this point theshoulders 9 will still be above the frame 2. The 15 angle of theyieldable part of the fastener with respect to the point A" and the sideof the projection 4 is such that there is a tendency to straighten theyieldable portions as the fastener is forced further through theapertures. Thus 2 the frame 2 acts as a fulcrum at A and thestraightening action causes the head I of the fastener to bear down hardon the cover I. In this last position, while the head is exerting themaximum pressure on the cover, the shoulders 9 5 engage the sides of theaperture in the framework and the cover is securely held in place. The

particular advantage of this type of fastening is that the holdingmeans, i. e. the head of the fastener, exerts its power very near theedge of 30 the covering panel, which is a much desired result, and onenot easily obtained with the ordinary types of fasteners previously inuse.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred form of my inventionI do not wish to be 35 limited thereby as the scope of my invention isbest defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. An installation of the class described comprising, in combination, asupporting structure 40 having an aperture therethrough, a substantiallyrigid projection extending from one side of said supporting structurebetween the edge thereof and said aperture, a covering member ofrelatively rigid material overlying said support at the 45 side thereofopposite from said projection, said cover having an aperture cooperatingwith the aperture in said support, and a fastener member having a headportion bearing on the outer surface of said cover, yieldable meansextending 50 from said head through said apertures and hearing againstone side wall of the aperture in said support, and the extremities ofsaid yieldable means bearing with a spring tension against theprojection of said support, the engagement of the 55 extremities of saidyieldable means with said projection tending to rock said fastener aboutthe apertured supporting structure as a fulcrum to cause the headportion to be forced against said cover.

21 An installation of the class described comprising, in combination,superposed members to be fastened together, each of said members havingan aperture, a projection extending from the first of said members atthe side thereof away from the second member, and a V-shaped fastenermember to secure said members together, one leg of said fastenerextending through said apertures and the free end thereof bearingagainst said projection thereby forcing another portion of the legagainst the first of the members to be fastened together and causing thefree end of the second leg of the fastener to bear upon the first memberwhereby the two members are secured together.

3. An installation of the class described comprising, in combination,superposed members to be fastened together, each of said members havingan aperture, a projection extending from the first of said members atthe side thereof away from the second member, and a V-shaped fastenermember to secure said members together, one leg of said fastenerextending through said apertures and the free end thereof bearingagainst said projection thereby forcing another portion of the legagainst the first of the members to be fastened together and causing thefree end of the second leg of the fastener to bear upon the first memberand means provided by the first leg of the fastener to engage the secondmember and maintain the fastener in engaged position, whereby the twomembers are secured together.

4. An installation of the class described comprising, in combination, asupporting structure having an aperture therethrough, a substantiallyrigid projection extending from one face of said supporting structureadjacent to said aperture,

a covering member superposed on said support at the side opposite saidprojection, said cover having an aperture overlying the aperture in thesupport, and a sheet metal fastener of substantially v-shapedlongitudinal cross-section securing said members together, one leg ofsaid V- shaped fastener comprising a pair of movable arms, said armspassingjhrough said apertures and the free ends thereof bearing againstsaid projection, shoulders provided by said arms engaging the materialof said supporting structure adjacent to the aperture therethrough tomaintain the fastener in position, and the other leg of said fastenerbearing on the outer surface of the cover to hold the cover to saidsupport.

5. An installation of the class described comprising, in combination, asupporting structure having a rib extending along one edge thereof, saidrib presenting at least one rigid surface disposed substantially atright angles to the plane of said supporting member, said supportingmemher having a plurality bf apertures therethrough spaced at equaldistances from said rib, a covering member overlying said support at theside thereof opposite to said rib and extending to the extreme edge-ofsaid support, said cover having apertures in alignment with apertures insaid support, and a plurality of individual sheet metal fastenerssecuring said cover to said support, each of said fasteners beingsubstantially V- shaped in longitudinal cross-section and having thefree end of one leg located at the outer surface of said cover adjacentto the edge thereof and the second leg of each fastener extendingthrough one set of apertures, said second leg comprising a pair oflaterally yieldable spring arms having oppositely disposed shouldersengaging said support and the free ends of said arms bearing against therigid face of said rib whereby the first leg of each fastener is urgedagainst the cover to hold it in place.

CHARIESLEALL

